Waiting in the Wings
By Noel Coward
Dates performed: 24th - 27th April 2024
Director: Amanda
Oelrichs
Stage Manager: Nancy Adams
Stage crew: Rick Adams,
John Gray and Emma Baines
Above: (Left to right) Sylvia Archibald
(Becky Davis); Lotta Bainbridge (Tracey Hobbs); Estelle Craven (Frances
Harrod);
Deirdre O'Malley (Georgette Vale); Perry Lascoe (David
Percival); Cora Clarke (Heather Carpenter)
Maud Melrose (Marianne
London): Bonita Belgrave (Rowena Atkinson); May Davenport (Tabi
Paternoster);
Almina Clare
(Jaybee Brown)
Below left: Zelda Fenwick (Katy Lowry);
Other cast members: Osgood Meeker (David
Paternoster); Dora/Topsy Baskerville (Mary Primrose); Dr Jevons (David
Atkinson)
Alan Bennet (Chris Cate); Sarita Myrtle (Elaine Skelly);
Doreen (Samantha Coultas)
NODA Review
This was Noel Coward’s
50th play and his tribute to the theatre. Set in a
retirement home, called The Wings, for retired actresses; this play
with a cast of seventeen (mostly) ladies could be a nightmare for the
director to keep pace.
Amanda
Oelrichs kept the shape of the play, the pace and the interest as
these superb characterisations from this large cast entertained us, a
tight production.
As expected from the
players, the set designed by Alan Carpenter and David Paternoster was
practical and ideal for purpose, looked good, was well dressed and
with properties all fitting the setting.
The costumes were right for the
period and looked good on actresses.
What an opportunity for
all these ladies to develop their strong interpretations as they
re-enacted their triumphs on stage and their relationships and their
memories.
There were some perfect reflections
on the stage and so many excellent performances.
The focal point of the
story is the arrival of Lotta Bainbridge (Tracey Hobbs) to the home
where her archrival May Davenport (Tabi Paternoster) holds sway, they
have not spoken for 30 years.
The
residents’ gossip provided a good background to the story, as they
discussed the reasons for the long-held rivalry.
It must have taken a
lot of effort to cast 13 ladies, resulting in the return of previous
players and the recruitment of new members to add to the current core
of players.
Each worked so hard to establish
their personality and character.
We
had an episode with matches and the result.
We had a great personality of
outspoken Cora from Heather Carpenter.
A well maintained Irishness of
Deidre from Georgette Vale, and that jig!
Great discussions and views
regarding the longed-for solarium. And how to obtain funding for this
from Perry (David Percival) in his relationship with the ladies. We
had all the fun of the Christmas party.
Overall, there were the
various conversations and relationships built up through years of
living under one roof.
It was not a static production and
certainly the movement and visits kept us all involved.
Around the bar the marvelous black
and white theatre photos as the actresses were in their heyday really
added to the atmosphere.
A really entertaining and very professional
production much enjoyed by the audiences.
Assistant Rep
